Friends Meeting

...

The powerful engine barely heats up and they arrive in Brackettville...

Families from all the surrounding regions are crowding the place. The Willams Vegas couple are unmistakable and are already noticed even before leaving the vehicle by the closest old friends. And someone comes forward and says:

"Hey! Look who's here! If it's not old Jack 'and family'! (cheerful tone)" One of the men is ready and will receive the friend who has already left the veícle:

"Hello, Jack!"

"Hello Carlson! Everything in sacred peace? ..." The two greet each other, while some boys surround Jesse ... One of the boys is Jhony, who seems to be the leader, despite being the smallest in the class, he is also the most active and seems to be the most intelligent. He shakes Jesse's hand by shaking his arm, saying:

"Now, I want to see Michael win us over!" Putting his arm around his friend's neck and the other boys agree, vibrant: "IIÉÉÉÉHHH!", "Let's win now!", "That's it!" ... Without wasting time, they already take the boy to a fun "sea"!

"Mom there I go!"

"All right my love! ... Heads up!" Waving to the son who is already in front of a "hit and win" stand, where his opponent, the "big champion", has already won three bears.

Carlson with a respectful and friendly air praises Judy:

"Judy, You look beautiful with that belly!"

"Just 'very round'!" (laughs)Play the woman squeezing her husband on her left side, as they walk. Carlson concludes:

"The staff is at that table ..."

Then Jack asks:

"And Mérile and the children?" Calrson lowers his head and replies:

"So it is ..." "Hey hard woman!" He thinks, but despite the intimacy with the couple, he thought it best not to "spoil" the moment with his problems. Jack and Judy are aware of Mérily jealousy and do not embarrass their friend. Carlson looks at Jack with his head half bowed and pursing his lips, then lets out an embarrassed smile. For a moment Jack feels the sadness in that man's eyes and feels relief that he never has that kind of problem with his wife ... He realizes his friend trying to disguise it, puts his hand on Carlson's left trapeze (over his shoulder), squeezes. .. Carlson feels that that is old Jack, ... always caring for people. He lets out a smile, lifting his head and looking at his friend.

"It is my old man! ... It is slow as in the step of the cattle!" (Transmitting peace)

"Good men, they always touch the cattle with their heads held high." Finishes Jack with a slight smile.

...

Before arriving at the big table, where family and friends get together, they are already received by another dear friend. It's Dóroti Freeman with a piece of her corn cake, which she always makes fondly. Dóroti always friendly and receptive to people:

"Oh! Vegas!" Hug her pasting her cheeks and squinting from smiling so much...

"Take it baby!" Judy takes the piece of cake smiling:

"Dóroti! Wow, how are you ..." "Oops"! Judy thought, "braking her tongue" ... But Dorothy, as always, laughs and adds:

(laughs) "'Fat'! You can say it! (laughs). Also with this 'my power' of making the best corn cake in the community! I'm sorry dear, I can't... (jokingly)" With the left hand on the hip, and the other already taking another piece of cake and chattering:

"Delicious delicious...Huummph! Delicious! ..." Judy tastes her cake and agrees:

"Huummph! I agree, friend! Delicious! I want the recipe."

The others at the table greet the couple with handshakes and warm hugs! The couple is very dear to everyone there! They keep the conversations up to date!

...

Meanwhile, a country band plays old songs that never go out of style in the state of Texas! ...

More and more people come to the place ... some on horseback, others in their trucks ... some on foot ... whole families ...

A small church nearby is also packed! Even some tourists on their Harley Davidson, crossing the state, are guaranteed a visit at that annual corn event in neighboring provinces. Fun is guaranteed that any visitor will never forget!

The place is of traditional people, descendants of colonizers, patriots! People who love their culture. They are friendly to each other; there are usually no crimes in the communities, except for one or the other who exaggerates in a bar or tavern ... When the problem is greater, it is almost always for someone from another city or state; who arrives thinking that in the place "there is only hillbilly" and that he can do whatever he wants! But they usually go wrong!

Chief Mallbonrg is in control of a merry-go-round about 80 meters away when he catches sight of Jack. Mallbonrg pulls a nephew of yours who was passing by just in time!

"Ah! Hi Uncle Mall ... What do you send me?"

"I want you to stay here in control of the carousel while I go there!" While the boy's uncle, about 17 years old, speaks, the young man has his eye on a girl who is in line waiting to pick up the toy. Uncle takes off his nephew's hat ...

"Are you listening to me boy ?!"

"Clear!...? What is it, anyway?" (Laughs)

"Stay here in my place while I go to talk to Jack ..."

"Ah! Of course, of course, uncle! Leave it to me!" Turning around to look at the girl, while he puts his hat back on, the young woman has red cheeks, adjusting her hair behind her ear and smiling awkwardly, she looks away at the floor.

"Competence, boy!"

"I'm already a man, Uncle Mall, stay calm!" (Smiling) ...

"I know! ... Humph"

Mallborn goes to where Jack is ...

He touches his friend's right shoulder with a light touch:

"Hello! All in peace, mate?"

"Chief Mallborn!" The man gets up, shakes hands with the leader of the local indigenous community and asks smiling:

"How are things?" The two embrace ...

"All in the holiest peace! ... Jack, old man! (Laughter) ... When are we going out to fish again ?!" (Smiling)

"Ah, my brother! God only knows, now that we are about to receive another Vegas from the family ..." Think Mallborn; "Another!" ... and keeps going:

"I didn't know Judy was pregnant!..." Judy listens and waves to the man, and he waves back... The man turns his attention to Jack, who jokes:

"Exact, never went to visit us again!"

"I was planning to appear there these days! ... I thought you would come ... I have an important matter ..." When he is interrupted by Franck appearing in the middle of the pair and shaking them by the shoulders:

"Hey, guys! Sorry, Chief Mallbonrg, interrupt you! The 'Cowboy-Jack' here, is very difficult to appear! And today is the big day of the 'rematch'!" Balancing Jack lightly, who jokingly comments:

"'Cowboy-Jack' ?! I'm kind of 'rusty'! I don't think I look more like a 'bang-bang comic'?" (Laughter) Jack tries. But Franck Winston is quite stubborn:

"You are rusty ?! I just saw a 'right Jesse' putting some kids in the 'pot'! Who taught you, huh? " Jack smiles, adjusting his hat, clears his throat, and warns:

"I'll match my 'rib' ..." Franck celebrates:

"Yes!" And Judy makes a joke:

"Go slowly with 'the boys'!" (Laughter) Calrson gets up ready to go with the boys and also jokes:

"The Jack 'take it easy'!" (Laughter) ... Only if it's on the trigger! 'Bam! Bam'!" (Laughs) ...

And the four men walk to the shooting range of the park ...

...

This community party takes place right next to Dóroti and Jonathan Freeman's house.

Judy feels the need to go to the bathroom and tries to get up from her chair ... Dóroti's eldest daughter, Juliette, 18, who is next door, helps; she takes Judy by the left hand and the other hand holds Judy around the waist, helping her out of that chair sitting at the table ... After all, it's been 7 months and 18 days! The big day is approaching! The long-awaited arrival day. Judy says:

"Ufa! Thank you, girl!" (Laughs)

"No, you're welcome, Dona Judy!" (smiling)

"Estás more and more beautiful, Julie!"

"Thanks! But the lady with the 'round belly' is very beautiful!"

"'The price of life', my beautiful! Will you accompany me to the bathroom, Julie?"

"Yea! Like 'no'? Let's go..."

"Thanks, but I really want you to help me with these steps there!" Pointing to the access to the veranda of the house ... Judy holds the handrail with her right hand while holding the girl's hand, goes up the three steps ... Jonatan, Juliete's father comes out of the house surprised by the sight of Judy:

"What?!, If you are not the eldest daughter of the Macdowans! How are you?"

"'Holding the bladder'." (Laughs)

"Ah! But of course (laughs) ... The bathroom is just to the left."

"OK! Thank you, Mr. Freeman!"

"Follow her, Julie."

"OK dad ... We don't want 'someone' (baby) to hurry up!"

"It's almost 'time'."(Judy speaks) Judy without wasting time goes to the bathroom ...

Judy washes her hands, comes out of the bathroom, and asks:

"Juliete, can I use the phone?"

"Yes of course!"

"Maybe, don't be quick."

"Ah, what is this ?! 'The coolest pregnant woman in the world' asks a favor! Talk as long as you want!"

"Pois is Julie, it is important!"

"The phone is right there ... feel free." Pointing to the furniture, which is a small table glued to a chair next to it ..."

...

Minutes later, at a newsstand ... the boys are spending the "dollars". They are already in another best of three. Jesse's friends are attentive waiting for the boy to take aim, with the ball in his right hand, while the other arm is outstretched ... "ZUUMMMP!" ... "PUF!" Drop another teddy bear! "IÉÉÉÉÉ !!!" The boys celebrate ...

"What are we going to do with so many bears?" Question one of the boys, Dilan, 11, called by his friends "fat". Jhony hurries to answer by punching the air:

"Let's sell and get rich with this 'business'!" (Laughter and applause) Already Marc Olsen, the big guy, 14 years old, has other "plans":

"I want to give my sister a couple, of these bears" (she passes her hand behind her head) ...

"I know, 'little sister'! Um hmmm! ... "Suspect Jesse ... and Jhony confirms the suspicions:

"We already know, Marc ..." (laughs)

"What?! ... 'You know', what?!" Marc turns red, smiles, and then messes with Jhoni's hair, who laughs, and Gordo" alarms ":

"You always give the bears you earn to Dona Marta's daughter!" The boys laugh while Michael ends up losing the jackpot ... "TAP!" On the wall! And the boys are excited! ... "YEAHHHH!", "THAT!"

"Hey! You disturbed me!" (The opponent complains) ... The game continues ...

Meanwhile, nearby, the adults are wasting their fuses ... "BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!" ... Jack and his friends reload the sniper guns, aim and hit the iron ducks! "BANG! BOOM! BAM! PAM!" ... Once again reload very quickly aim and ... "BANG! PÍNG !! PÍNG !! PAM!" Two fuses finally miss the ducklings ...

"Ah! Almost!!" Discover Carlson! But he is not alone ... Franck also "grumbles":

"Wow! It was the last! That's it! ..." While Mallbonrg and Jack hit all ten shots. The two winners clap their hands up: "That's it" !! ...

...

 Minutes later the boys and men join the others at the big table ... Everyone talks smiling ... Some of them have red cheeks for "gaffes" or some exchange of looks with some boy or girl from another family ... Someone taking care a baby crying and another with another baby sleeping ... while the sound of the bowls tinkles with the sound of laughter that night ... Soon everything becomes history.

...

Hours later ...

The place is almost empty ... Family and friends are around a fire ... some on chairs, others on the grass ... Juliet plays soft music on the guitar ... Judy is sitting on Jack's legs, with his head bent on his neck ...

The song ends and some clap their hands ... Juliette then says:

"Now I want to hear that song that when my friend here sings, it seems that the heavens are opening!" She stretches out her hand and hands the guitar to Judy, who takes the instrument smiling:

"Okay ... Let's see ... It's been a while ..." Tune the guitar ...

"As I was saying: I haven't played in a few months ... But come on ..." Some of the couples present hug each other while listening to the notes on the guitar dance to a slow song with Judy's voice ... Jack goes back a little bit in time and remember the day you met Judy ... He felt that same feeling when his heart beat faster for the first time when he heard the sound of Judy's voice answering him: "I love you too"!

Judy is in the last sentence of the song ... and on the last note, she feels the child move her belly hard! She turns around, takes Jack's hand, and places it right where the baby was moving! The man filled his eyes as he "felt life". Then everyone present approached wanting to feel the movements and put their hands one by one on Judy's belly! Juliette coment:

"People! Beautiful! Enough to 'tickle'!" Dórote Freeman jokes:

"My God! ... 'Get me out of here, get me out of here'!" (laughs) Carlson says:

"Wow! ... and it's strong!" (Laughter) And Chief Mallbonrg predicts:

"Will be a 'warrior'!" (smiling) And Jonatan:

"Strength my boy"(Laughter)!

All friends around Judy want to touch her belly and feel the sweet life that grows.

...

    Minutes later, Jack and Judy, with Jesse asleep, are already on the road ...